BEST employees call a 72- hour strike

Lakhs of commuters in Mumbai are inconvenienced as BEST employees have called a strike to demand a pay scale revision.

Lakhs of bus commuters in the city were inconvenienced as Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport undertaking (BEST) employees began their 72-hour strike from midnight.

Over 42,000 BEST employees are participating in the strike called to demand revise pay scale, the department sources said.

Usually over 30 lakh commuters travel by 3,500 BEST buses daily, they said.

The strike has brought hardship for people going to offices, students and others who had to take private vehicles, autorickshaws and taxis. There were reports that autorickshaws charged exorbitant rates.

At a meeting of BEST employees unions' action committee in Mumbai last night, the union leaders accused BEST management of delaying the revision of pay scales as agreed earlier.

Meanwhile, citing a Bombay High Court ruling on the strike, BEST management has warned the agitating employees of stringent action for participating in the strike. BEST general manager Uttam Khobragade said the strike was "illegal".